5 Ways to Keep the Elderly at Home Mentally Active

by Emoha Elder Care Emoha Elder Care

It is not easy to watch the elderly at home gradually become forgetful by the day. Forgetfulness makes the everyday life of the elderly a struggle. They no longer find it easy to continue with their daily routine like they used to. The onus comes on the family members to ensure the elderly get the right help throughout their day, which is taxing, saying the least. But you do not have to just watch them struggle due to forgetfulness. 

There are ways you can help the elderly stay mentally engaged and slow down the severity of forgetfulness. When they are mentally active, their everyday life is less of a struggle. Here are five ways how you can do that:

 

Exercise

Regular cardiovascular exercise is beneficial not only for the heart but also for the brain. With the increase in the heart rate, the blood and oxygen flow to the brain also increases. When the brain receives more blood and oxygen, it stays more active. For some elderly, performing heavy exercises daily can be taxing. A simple 30-minute walk, ideally in the morning, is also an excellent option that would serve the same purpose as a cardiovascular exercise would do.

 

Eating Right

A balanced diet is good for their physical as well as mental health. When the brain receives proper nutrition, it stays healthy and active for a longer time. You can also delay the rate of mental decay with healthy food. To ensure the elderly have a balanced diet, reduce their consumption of food with saturated fats (like fast food and oily food) and insist on increasing their consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

 

Engage Them in Cooking

Cooking is one of the activities that are mentally engaging. It keeps one’s brains on the toes. You do not necessarily have to ask the elderly to make a meal for the entire family but include them in the process of cooking. Give them some minor responsibilities to keep their brain active, like keeping an ear out for the cooker’s whistle, adding spices as per their taste, chopping fruits and vegetables for salads, etc.

 

Help Them Socialize

Social engagement is beneficial for the brain’s health. It’s one of the best ways to keep the brain active. Help the elderly be a part of communities and clubs for activities they like engaging in, like chess, books, stories, etc. The more they socialize with people with shared interests, the more active their brains will be.

 

Play Brain Teaser Games

Games like Sudoku and Crossword are brain teaser games. They make one think critically while playing to solve the puzzle. These games are recommended regardless of age because they stir brain activity. The more the elderly play these games, the better their mental activity will be.

 

Looking after the elderly at home is not an easy task, but we have to do it because they are our parents and guardians. If you need help, you can opt for services that offer healthcare at home for the elderly. Together with them, you can ensure that the elderly at home live a healthy and fulfilling life.

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Created on Mar 22nd 2021 02:21. Viewed 354 times.

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